Nomiki Petrolla

PDS Lab

We help non-tech founders build their software ideas within our remote accelerator accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world.

Founder / Creator

Techstars

Startup Mentor

Miami University

Teaching students in the Emerging Tech and Business department how to bring their ideas to life through the PDS Lab course framework.

Visiting Faculty

Nomiki is a fractional Product Manager and Designer for software startups focused on complete user experiences that combine design, product, and strategy. 

She's worked with startups in B2B/B2C to facilitate software concepts in the 0 > 1 phase to spearheading growth for Series C-backed organizations. 

Customers work with her to create product designs, form development collaboration through product management and build product strategies and visions for short and long-term roadmaps.

Fractional Head of Product 🚀

Dreamers & Doers®

Dreamers & Doers is a community of high-achieving women entrepreneurs and creatives, focused on networking, mentorship, and social impact. ✨

Executive Member

SAVVI AI

Product and design leader executing our mission to empower product teams to make smarter software by building the world's first end-to-end machine learning tool.

VP, Product

Your Detour Podcast

Your Detour interviews successful entrepreneurs, business leaders, physicians, artists, and many others that have found their way to success by taking a detour or two along the way. 

Through this podcast, listeners will have the opportunity to hear and learn from the experiences of others. Not everyone takes a traditional route to success, and we hope these stories will inspire and motivate those considering taking the road less traveled.

We hope you’ll join us. Subscribe to “Your Detour” and lookout for new episodes.

Podcast Host

GPShopper, a Synchrony solution

VP, Product - User Experience

AVP, Product Design Manager

Creative Manager

Senior UX/UI Designer

Branding Brand

Work with departments in Branding Brand ensuring strong, stable operations, clear communication, and effective and efficient work solutions.

- Created and manage Client Activity site that allows for company/client awareness of monthly recurring revenue and professional services that brought in an additional 238k in revenue over 6 months 
- Created and manage new JIRA workflows that enhance visibility into client status for both pre and post launch projects
- Built and manage documentation for Account Management team that keeps record of all client billable contract data
- Enforced and manage company time tracking mandate that led to an increase from the 40th to 90th percentile in less than 2 months
- Created and manage weekly KPI Report for C-Level Executives that provides insight into Sales, QA, Operations, Feasibility, Account Management, Post-Launch and Pre-Launch Project Status, and Design
- Worked to develop new business via email and telephone to introduce the Branding Brand solution
- Prepare and analyze sales pipeline reports and dashboards
- Create sales design pieces using mobile best practices

Operational Reporting Manager

Worked in tangent with developers and account managers to improve our
iOS & Android Applications by tracking analytics, updating designs and usability practices, managing post-launch project processes, and quality assurance testing.
 
- Performed daily testing on all iOS and Android applications
- Problem solved with developers and provided designs to enhance user experience within applications
- Created and managed bug ticketing processes within JIRA for pre and post launch projects
Gathered and deciphered crash reports for developers using Flurry
or Console
- Assisted with scheduling of Professional Services through the Account Managers to Application Director
- Managed daily scrum meetings broken out into teams discussing project and workload status
Provided daily insight into the Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) for iOS and Android best practice implementations
- Worked with architecture to manage the creation of new widgets for
iOS platform
- Attended client meetings to discuss products and/or 3rd party integrations
- Managed client and brander access to tesflight for iOS and Android

iOS & Android Applications Analyst

Worked with team members to design and develop mobile websites and applications for iPhone, Android, and iPad, using proprietary echo technology.
 
- Designed over 15 live client mobile sites, tablet sites, iOS and Android applications
- Created pitch designs showcasing mobile sites, tablet sites, iOS and Android applications for over 25 prospect clients
- Used the toolbox of creative assets to design and create projects, based on internal guidelines and best practices 
- Worked with Project Management team during client design phase (2-4 week period of intense design work) to create comprehensive mockups to inform development that incorporate client feedback balanced with design/usability knowledge 
- Assisted Development team by monitoring progress and answering design/functionality-related questions 
- Assisted Quality Assurance team by reviewing sites pre-launch 
- Worked with Client Support to update or enhance current client sites 
- Attended and prepared for internal and client-facing meetings 
- Created a variety of graphics/infographics for reports, presentations, or other documentation

Mobile Designer

Mom of 4 • Founder of PDS Lab • 0 to MVP • Early-Stage Startups • Product, Design and Strategy

I've been turning big ideas into software MVPs with early-stage startups for 15 years and turned my skills into a framework that helps non-technical founders build their software MVPs in less than 3 months. 

Software builds I've led have been used by millions of customers and generated billions in revenue.

✔  Measurable Results:
Created solutions that led to over $200M in funding and $50M in acquisitions.

✔  Industry Agnostic:
Built software using PDS Lab systems in Feminine Technology, Financial Services, eCommerce, AI / ML, Food Delivery, Patient / Doctor Care, Lifestyle and Travel, Financial Technology, Operations, and Automotive Solutions

✔  Variable Platforms:
Partnered with founders to create new products and/or features in Web, Mobile, and SaaS

✔  Most-Loved Brands:
Led product solutions with teams at Crate & Barrel, PayPal, SAVVI AI, Foot Locker, Willow Innovations, FLO Living, and dozens more!

Peer reviews are critical. 

They force you to articulate your work. 
They build confidence with practice. 
They teach you to accept feedback. 
They bridge the gap from you to others. 

Today we did live demos - a show and tell of everyone’s product using FlutterFlow. 

Next week, they’re attaching their front ends to databases and constructing the functional pieces. 

My biggest teaching to them throughout is not only to be resourceful but to keep going. 

Progress over perfection!

T-3 weeks until their final pitches. 

Anyone interested in sitting in on them to provide feedback? Send me a DM!

Over the next 5 weeks my students will be turning their ideas into a functional product using no code tool, FlutterFlow.

The program set them up for this. 

8 modules, all leading them to the point of build.

• Mission & Values
• Customer Discovery
• Exploring Solutions
• Features & Monetization
• Customer Experiences
• Wireframes & Systems
• Prototypes & Requirements
• Pitch Deck

Just like founders, they're validating ideas before spending time on building. 

When they created their FlutterFlow account, the path was easy. 

They know what they're building.

They know why they're building it. 

They know what their customers want.

They can FOCUS on the important features and functions.

So they can deliver in 5 weeks from today. 

---
It may seem counterintuitive to some. 

I've heard people give founders advice to "go build".

But in reality, they need to be validating anything before spending time. 

They need to get the data to support their hypothesis before testing it.

Just because YOU want it, doesn't mean others want it. 

Just because others want it, doesn't mean they'll pay for it. 

You gotta figure that out before investing time and energy into a build. 

Founding a startup is hard. 

But you can ease the pain by working on it without building it, first. 

--
Hi, I'm Nomiki - founder of PDS Lab, a product accelerator supporting women who want to build tech. Follow me on my journey to building in public and helping others learn product development for their startups. 

Students need more than courses. 
They need life skills. 
They need real feedback on those acquired skills. 

So tonight, Sam Ogborn and I are supporting students at Miami University in an open forum event, helping them with their resumes and portfolios in real time. 

We've been around the job block in our day, and now we're entrepreneurs. 
So we know exactly what people are looking for when hiring newbs in the space.

Thank you to the Miami University Emerging Technology in Business + Design for being gracious and providing us with a state-of-the-art building to gather and give real help to students ready to join the real world!

When you are thinking of a new solution or product, do not go to the Google abyss and search for your potential competitors. 

90% of startups fail, which means that the majority of products on the market won't survive the hard stuff. 

So when you find a company competing with you that has a gorg website, a team of 20, and has raised a lot of money, don't assume they're winning.  

They could have 3 months of runway left and on a trajectory to make their investors $0 return. 

Do not compare. Just take action and make something that your customers LOVE. 

Focus on them. 
Focus on how you can make their lives better so they come back for more. 

Another Friday, another event!

Today at PDS Lab we're bringing in fractional CFO Zahra Yarahmadi to talk all things MONEY. 

These events are intended to educate on the basics and then answer specific questions from our founders. 

Why? We want everyone coming through the lab to learn about these topics and then feel comfortable enough to take action and apply their learnings to their startups. 

This event was HIGHLY requested, and we have so much to cover!

If you are interested in becoming a panel expert at PDS Lab, send me a DM :)

I can't wait to chat with you, Zahra!!

---

Hi I'm Nomiki, founder of PDS Lab, a product accelerator supporting women build tech. We are on a mission to change the funding gap and teach product development to each founder. Follow along for the journey!

One thing about business that's true...

Constants are on a swivel. 

I released my April newsletter this morning, with some BIG updates. 

I launched a rebrand! 
Some of you know this from my DNS setting snafu LOL

But no one knows about my internal battle with messaging, marketing, and sales targeting over the past 8 months to get here.

It's been a journey. 

When I started the lab, I looked at my career.
I picked out patterns in the products I've built.

And I learned that I was mainly building for non-technical founders.
Founders that were both women AND men. 

I was teaching them the process of product development.
And I was helping them launch their startups, fast!

My work has yielded incredible results. 
Some have exited, some funded, and some still building!

But as I was building, I struggled to gain traction for the "non-technical" founder.
I learned, too, that my work is helpful for technical founders, too.
I have CTOs and engineers in my community to prove it.

So when I tested the messaging, something wasn't clicking.

It wasn't hitting a nerve for people.

And as you know, solving a problem that hits a nerve is the only way up.

So I started to play with messaging that still aligned with my goals.

A few like:
Entrepreneurs with new ideas. 
Professionals building a side hustle.
Women who want to build tech.

And almost IMMEDIATELY, I found that women who wanted to learn how to build tech resonated. 

IT. STRUCK. A. NERVE.

I mean, no shit, right? Women only receive 1.6% of funding (2024 data!!!)

And guess what....

These women were ALSO non-technical. 

Two birds with one stone. 

----
So what did this mean for me? 
What did it mean for the lab?

This is when I became conflicted.

You see, I've been working with men my whole career. 

My mentors are men. 
They're both engineers, founders, and exceptional leaders. 
I have helped men build their products and helped them exit! 
I also have four brothers, so I communicate directly like many men. 

It's in my nature to work with men.

So what do I do about this?

Well, right now, in this very moment, I've chosen to market to women building tech. 

To help them get past the INSANE barrier of entry that is a very real problem.

And I have the energy to give to this because I want to solve it. 

I want to make an impact. 

---
So, what does that mean for gender inclusivity?

I still welcome men. 
I think having men in the community, building alongside women, makes us better.

Does my landing page say that? 
No, not right now. 

But a day will come when I can expand my messaging. 
It's just not today. 

Why am I telling you all of this?
I believe the only way to build a company is by being transparent.

This is the journey. 

And every day is a new learning.

Thank you for being here with me. 

---
Hi! I'm Nomiki, founder of PDS Lab, a product accelerator that supports women building tech. Follow on my journey as I build in public and share the real and raw sides of creating a business.

It's been a BUSY week!

Thank you to Techstars Columbus Powered by The Ohio State University for having me as part of yesterday's product panel - it's ALWAYS a blast!

And today, PDS Lab is hosting a customer discovery workshop covering all the details of how to get data from potential customers you can actually use for product validation.

Yep, not all data is good data. 
Not all conversations yield data you can use. 
Not all founders know how to get the results they need.

We'll cover all that and my top tricks to gather and synthesize customer data effectively. 

Happy Friday, ya'll!


Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise

SIGNAL

Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise

SIGNAL

Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise
Noise

Don’t let the noise cloud you. 

It comes in shapes of distractions.
It shows its face in negativity. 
It appears when you are treading lightly.
It creeps when your boundaries soften.

Stay laser focused. 

Push that all out and the signal will become clear. 

—-
Hi, I’m Nomiki - founder of PDS Lab, a product accelerator supporting women building tech. Follow on my journey as I build in public and turn my business into a ripple effect for women in tech.

If you want to scare off investors, skip on knowing your numbers. 

Listen here...

Starting a business from scratch is very hard. 
There is SO much to know and act on. 
A part of that, is knowing your numbers. 

Every single customer that comes through the door is sacred. 
Every number that is attached to your business is essential. 

You need to know how every number relates to your business and customer base and be able to speak on it very succinctly and clearly. 

What numbers are we talking about? 

Here's just a few:
• Total downloads
• MoM growth
• TAM / SAM / SOM
• MRR / ARR
• Churn and Retention
• Total customers

This list WILL get long, but you still need to know them or have access to all of them. 

Automate the data so it comes into a spreadsheet. 

Do whatever you have to do to stay on top of it. 

As a founder, you don't have the luxury of choosing your pace. 

If you want to win, you have to move fast. 

And the only way to move fast is by knowing your data.

And being able to act on it... FAST. 

If you don't have a place to see your numbers right now, I suggest getting ahead of it.

It's better to make the wrong decision fast than meddle in your decision trap for weeks or months.

Speed is a surviving factor of entrepreneurship.

So next time you're struggling to make a decision remember that every day you don't DO you are stopping yourself from success. 

Branding is an extremely powerful element for a startup. 

Who you are.
What you stand for.
Why your company exists.

Making magic happen... 

...all through branding. 

I went through a major rebrand just a few weeks ago because I knew it was time to really stand on what I believed.

It's so powerful and the change that has come with it has been 🤯.

And today, the brand baddie Karrie Sanderson taught my students this power through her insane experience leading brands for Typeform, Smartsheet, CocaCola, and so many others. 

I'm so grateful to have met this wonderful human and constantly impressed by her growing superpowers. 

Karrie, thank you for sharing your genius with my students today!

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